Dressage and bleeding mouths, is this true?

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2Conker

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Is this a reality? I've heard that there's a trick of razoring the inside of a horses' lips a time before they compete say in dressage, to make them ultra sensitive to the bit. I'd guess in some instances this must make them bleed?
Has anyone heard this horror?
 
I have never heard of that and I have worked on a few dressage yards. I really hope it isn't true!! It would imagine that you would definately be able to see blood. Just think about razer cuts when shaving...the damn things wont stop bleeding.

That is horrible.
 
Nope, never heard of it.

Seeing as a dressage horse can be disqualified even if the smallest amount of blood is spotted in/around the mouth, you'd have to be pretty damn foolish to do that.
 
my understanding is that the mouth has healed enough not to bleed when ridden (presumably there isnt much 'sawing' with reins in dressage?) , but that it remains extremely sensitive where it's scarred.
 
Never heard of it but no cruelty in the name of competition surprises me any more :-(

It sounds like it might work so you can pretty much bet someone has tried it.

Tickles
<feeling rather cynical today!>
 
Never heard of it either. The tongue bleeds profusely so I would expect blood all over the place and scared tissue generally is less sensitive, so can't quite see what anyone would gain by it.
 
Good point about scar tissue being less sensitive, though if something is just healed, and only been lightly cut can imagine you wouldnt want much pressure on it. My feeling also is that nothing surprises me when it comes to the depth people will sink to 'persuade' an animal to act in a way they want-especially when kudos and money are involved.
 
Never heard of it and seems a little foolish, but I'm sure someone has tried it.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that all horses who have blood in their mouth at dressage have necessarily had this done to them. It can happen accidently.
 
Another good point; I dont think for a moment this practice is prevalent - and it's may be only at the most significant levels if at all - as you say, a horses mouth can bleed quite easily. If this was true, it's unlikely that someone adept at this practice would do it so it did bleed at the wrong time. Not that I can see how they'd do that.
 
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